1714 Selecting Shrubs

Before purchasing shrubs, decide what function they will have in the landscape. A shrub can screen, intercept a glare from car headlights, hide a house foundation, create bird habitat, and add fall color, flowers and fruit.

Colorado growing conditions present challenges and opportunities. Dry, sunny days and cool nights prolong or intensify flowering. On the other hand, late frosts may damage spring-flowering shrubs just as they start to bloom. Area soil conditions are often not conducive for growing certain shrubs.

Some shrubs generally do well over much of the state. Some may not perform well above 7,000 feet elevation.

Small shrubs, those six feet or less when mature, that are good for this area include Peking cotoneaster, redtwig and yellowtwig dogwood, buckthorn, buffaloberry, elderberry, lilac, Siberian peashrub, staghorn sumac, mountain mahogany and several viburnums.